This match against Gateshead Rutherford, second bottom of the Northern Alliance Premier Division, was arranged to give fringe players and some trialists a run out. Those on the pitch included Cairns, Carr, Rule, Ray, Wear, Bailey, Stoddart, Campania, Watson, Lowson, Yates and Mc Dougal. The difference in quality between the two sides was clear as the Stan recorded their first win of the three recent friendlies and did not need the luck of the Irish, on a crisp Saint Patrick’s night, to do so.

The Stan showed they meant business as early as the third minute when a through ball to Lowson saw him make it 1-0. Seven minutes later, from a corner, Carr sent the ball from the edge of the penalty area high into the opposite corner of the net to make it 2-0. In the twentieth minute Lowson rounded a defender and the keeper to make it 3-0. He had already formed a good partnership up front with a trialist who we will for the present call Pastilles. After more pressure from the Stan, the best chance so far for the visitors came in the fortieth minute when the ball went across the Stan goal but was then put over the bar. Pastilles then ran down the left wing and put a great ball into the box which was put out for a corner. Campania sent the corner ball straight to Bailey who headed in to make it 4-0.

Five minutes into the second half and Rule came out to meet a Gateshead attack but he was lobbed to make the score 4-1. Eleven minutes later and the four goal cushion was restored when Campania crossed from the left to the trialist Pastilles running in who made it 5-1. In the seventy fifth minute Bailey dummied the keeper to make it 6-1. The Stan kept trying for a seventh and Pastille wasted two good chances including one with three minutes to go when he beat the visiting keeper but shot over.

The management team, each supping a celebratory guinness and dressed as leprechauns, were pleased with the result and hope to sign one of the trialists to add to the team’s firepower.

Stan Team: Rule, Stoddart, Ray (J), Wear, Bailey, Watson, Cairns, Campania, Carr, Rowntree, Lowson.

Subs: Ray (N), Yates, Jack??

Goals: Lowson 3, 20, Carr 10, Bailey 41, 75, Rowntree 61.

Attendance: Unknown.

Kevin Mochrie